In Xamarin, there are several ways to share code across different platforms. The primary methods include:
Shared Projects:
Shared Projects allow developers to write common code that can be referenced by multiple application projects. The code is compiled as part of each referencing project and can include compiler directives to incorporate platform-specific functionality. This method is useful for sharing code within a single library or project[1][2][3].
Portable Class Libraries (PCL):
Portable Class Libraries enable developers to write code and libraries once and share them across different platforms like Xamarin.iOS, Xamarin.Android, and Windows Phone. PCLs are built against a subset of the .NET framework that is available across the targeted platforms. However, PCLs are considered deprecated in favor of .NET Standard[1][3][4].
.NET Standard Libraries:
.NET Standard Libraries provide a uniform API for all .NET platforms, including Xamarin and .NET Core. This method is the preferred option for sharing code across platforms as it offers better API compatibility and is supported in both Visual Studio and Visual Studio for Mac. .NET Standard Libraries are recommended over PCLs for new projects[3][4][7].
NuGet Packages:
Developers can create NuGet packages from PCL or .NET Standard projects to distribute shared code. Shared Projects can also be packaged into "bait and switch" NuGet packages using a separate NuGet project type. This method allows for easy distribution and reuse of shared code across different projects[3].
